Bastard Sapling is a spin-off of Inter Arma, including a song sung by the lead singer in Windhand (cute girl). One of the best black metal albums I have heard this year: warm, rich, organic, but still black.

The Killer In Us All: Bastard Sapling (VA) (13:25-19:40)

You know Pallbearer. This is more Pallbearish stuff – epic, large, pretty, vocals-heavy.

The Ghost I Used To Be: Pallbearer (Little Rock) (20:28-28:37)

The new American Graveyard that caught the 70’s mullet of Metal Blade.

Behold, The Anunnaki: Brimstone Coven (WV) (29:41-35:14)

Maveth (Finland) and Embrace of Thorns (Greece) came out with an incredible black crazy dark split of awesome filth

The Pits Of Strife: Embrace of Thorns (Greece) (35:50-39:31)

Experimental proggy death from Norway, totes weird and shit.

Hermit Dream: Diskord (Norway) (40:05-45:55)

San Francisco’s very weirdo experimental band that uses dulcimers. Dulcimers.

Pranjal’s voice is very majestic, it brainwashes you into thinking you are standing in a cathedral with dragons flying overhead. The lyrics are thoughtful and dripping with imagery. Last year’s album was a riffy sludge-filled album; this one incorporates a bit more melancholy. Hey, who doesn’t like to be kicked in the gut with emotion.

The Outlier: Cardinal Wyrm (Oakland) (17:13-24:02)

Krieg is like, a totes black metal and crust band. Whattup.

Worthless Nothing (Doom cover): Krieg (NJ) (25:04-27:25)

Oh my heart, a female led Graveyard-esque band. This album is MASSIVE.

Black Smoke: Blues Pills (Sweden) (27:59-33:04)

Vukari is like, yeah, we are black metal and stuff, but we can make you cry.

Riddled With Fear And Doubt: Vukari (Chicago) (33:37-38:52)

Yet another band from Arizona filled with seething anger, I like. But also, Arizona blows.

Blowback: Territory (Tucson) (39:04-41:16)

More of a shifting hardcore album: tempo-changing, genre-bending weirdos.

Standing On the Shoulders of Omega: Northern Widows (Columbus)(41:46-45:05)

A thickly riffy fist-pumping whiskey-flavored band.

Stoic: Nervewrecker (U.K.) (46:03-50:17)

I go off about the idea of metal. This band is BRUTAL.

(Proto)Christ: Coprocephalic (San Diego/Taiwan)(51:08-54:28)

Agoraphobic Nosebleed member, and label. Tiki-influenced grind.

Vestige of Surfly Remains: Wadge (Canada) (55:10-56:25)

Thanks FLOOD for having an album named OAK and making it entirely impossible to find you on the internet. Good thinkin’!